Ring toss game

ABSTRACT

A ring toss game that includes a three-ring unitary ring assembly tossed at a set of upstanding pins. The pins are arranged to form an equilateral triangle between their centers and are attached to a base plate. Points are scored by opposing players or teams by encircling a pin with at least one ring of the three-ring unitary ring assembly. The targets are spaced 15-20 feet apart.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates in general to competitive amusement devices playable indoors or outdoors and more particularly to a ring toss game which is capable of being played by one or more players with a new and improved ring structure containing three interconnected molded rings with rings equidistantly spaced apart.

2. Description of the Prior Art

There are a variety of different ring toss games of skill and each of those games has a specific novel aspect which differentiates each ring game from one another. For example, Kroscher et al., U.S. Pat. No. 626,328 uses a game board of any suitable or desirable shape and its upper surface is covered with some soft material to form a cushion and thereby deaden the sound as well as prevents rebounding of a pair of rings connected by a flexible cord. The cord is connected to both rings and is wound about a peripheral groove in the outer surface of the rings. The object is to throw one of the rings towards the board and to make the ring engage over one of the pins upstanding from the upper surface of the board. The cord attached to both rings enables a player who has thrown a ring at the pins to draw back the ring to the player without the need to walk up to the game board to retrieve the ring. Points are assigned to each pin with the highest point given to the central pin.

Duncan, U.S. Pat. No. 3,823,942, discloses a ring toss game utilizing a plurality of hoops in the form of a center hoop provided with outer hoops connected thereto at circumferentially spaced points to define a symmetrical assembly. Each hoop may be of different color so a different point count is applied to each hoop. When the hoop assembly is in chain form the center hoop is provided of one color and two outer hoops connected to the center hoop of different colors. The target is a pair of sticks supplied to each player and manipulated first to propel the rigid hoop assembly through the air and then to be caught on a stick of the other player. Another form of target for the hoop assembly is a base having a number of stakes equal in number to that of the hoops of the hoop assembly extending upwardly and also of various colors and of the same colors as the hoops in the hoop assembly. When the chain hoop assembly is employed, the target may be in the form of a base having three aligned upstanding stakes of different colors and of the same colors as the hoops in the chain hoop assembly. Where the ground supported targets are provided, the hoop assemblies will be propelled through the air by pitching them with the arm of a player.

Morin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,180,260, discloses a ring toss game device wherein a goal in the form of a rectangular base plate has five vertical spikes welded thereon. The spikes are straight, tapering to an upper point and are all the same length. The center spike is assigned the highest scoring number while those surrounding the center spike are assigned lower scoring numbers. Circular rings, round in cross-section, are tossed by players located at some distance away from the goal in an attempt to encircle the spikes and thus attain a score.

Goletz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,898,392, disclosed a ring toss game using a pair of target standards connected to an integral staking rod for outdoor use or connected to a flat circular base when the target standard is used indoors. It two players play, each receives a set of rings; if four players play, they are divided into teams each having a partner at each target standard. Before starting the game each player tosses a ring to see who gets closest to the target standard; the closest player goes first. This player tosses all of his or her set of rings during the turn. The other team's player at that target standard then throws the other set of rings, and so forth at the opposite target standard.

Points are earned as follows. To score a point the ring must land within one diameter of a ring from the target standard. Whichever player's rings are closest to the target standard, that person gets one point for each ring located within one diameter of the target standard. If a ring goes around the target standard, then that player gets three points; but, if his or her opponent also tosses a ring around the target standard, then who ever has a ring rim closest to the target standard gets the three points, cancelling the three points of the other player. In the next round the player who had the most points in the last round goes first. The player or team to first reach 21 points wins. If when the game is over there is a tie score, then each player tosses a ring, and the player (or team) tossing his or her ring closest to the target standard wins.

Little improvements over the known prior art forming the ring toss game have been proposed in the art. This could mean that the challenge may be worn off over time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a ring toss game in which targets are detachably anchored to a base plate resting on the ground. The targets consist of three circular pins extending upwardly from the base plate. The pins are placed so that no single ring can encircle more than one pin at a circumferential spacing of 120 degrees apart. A unitary hoop assembly in the form of three circular rings molded in one single unitary hoop assembly at a circumferential spacing of 120 degrees between each ring is used by a single player or each player electing to participate in the game. Four such unitary hoop assemblies are given to each player or each team. A team can be made up of two or four players. The four unitary hoop assemblies are shared by the players on each team. The two targets are placed at a distance of approximately 15 feet to 20 feet apart at opposite ends of a defined playing area. The distance apart can be reduced for smaller children choosing to play the game. Contestants stand at one end of the defined playing area from which all four rings are thrown towards the target at the opposing end of the defined playing area. Each set of four rings is identified by a unique color so that after all four rings are thrown by each player the target at which the rings were thrown is approached by each player to determine the points scored for each player.

Points are counted by determining how many pins are encircled by each ring of the three ring unitary hoop assembly. If only one ring of the unitary hoop assembly encircles one pin of the three circular pins the player throwing the unitary hoop assembly is awarded one point. Should two pins be encircled by two of the three rings making up the unitary hoop assembly two points are awarded to the player. If all three rings of the unitary hoop assembly each encircle a pin on the base plate at least three points are awarded to the player tossing the unitary hoop assembly. That is presuming the other player/team scores no points. If the challenging player/team scores points the points of the same player/team who throws first are offset so that the challenging player/team can negate the point by also encircling a pin target. The game is won by the first player/team scoring exactly 21 points. If the leading player/team goes over 21 the current score is reduced by the number of points exceeding 21.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a ring toss game in the form of a three ring unitary hoop assembly in which each target is detachably connected to a base plate.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide a ring toss game in the form of a three ring unitary hoop assembly having targets and rings which permit play either indoors or outdoors.

It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a ring toss game in the form of a three ring unitary hoop assembly which can be played by a single person or team players consisting of up to four people.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ring toss game in the form of a three ring unitary hoop assembly which is safely and enjoyably playable by children and by disabled persons.

It is yet a further object of the present invention to provide a ring toss game in the form of a three ring unitary hoop assembly.

It is still a further object of the present invention to provide a ring toss game in the form of a three ring unitary hoop assembly which is easy to transport and set up for play in a park, at the beach or other play areas where there is a soft terrain.

It is yet a further object in the present invention to provide a ring toss game in the form of a three ring unitary hoop assembly which is easy simple in design, inexpensive to manufacture, rugged in construction, thereby making it affordable to the average consumer.

These and other objects will be readily apparent with reference to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a player engaged in the play of the ring toss game according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a detachable target assembly used for playing the ring toss game according to the invention;

FIG. 3A is a sectional view taken along lines A-A of FIG. 2, illustrating the assembly of the circular pins to the base plate according to the invention;

FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along lines A-A of FIG. 2 illustrating the assembly of the circular pins to the base plate using a threaded pin member according to the invention;

FIG. 4A is a fragmentary cross-sectional view along lines 4A-4A of FIG. 3A illustrating the assembly of the circular pins to the base plate according to the invention;

FIG. 4B is a fragmentary cross-sectional view along line 4B-4B of FIG. 3B illustrating the assembly of the circular pin screwed into the pin socket mounted to the base plate according to the invention; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the three-ring unitary hoop assembly used in the ring toss game as illustrated in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

FIGS. 1-6 illustrate the ring toss game according to the invention. The ring toss game includes two spaced apart targets and two sets of four three-ring unitary hoop assemblies as illustrated in FIG. 6. The targets consist of a base plate 10 resting on the ground with three circular pins 12, 14, 16 extending upwardly from the base plate 10. Each circular pin 12, 14, 16 is of the same color and has the same point value. The base plate 10 includes three stake or pin sockets 18, 20, 22, spaced circumferentially 120° apart such that the center of each pin 12, 14, 16 forms an equilateral triangle. The distance between each of the three circular pins 12, 14, 16 is greater than the inside diameter of the rings that make up the three-ring unitary hoop assembly to prevent a ring from encircling more than one pin 12, 14, 16 of the target.

The pin sockets 18, 20, 22 are adapted to respectively receive the circular pins 12, 14, 16. As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, each circular pin 12, 14, 16 is hollow, cylindrical in shape, closed at the top and open at the bottom thereof. Each circular pin 12, 14, 16 is provided at the lower end with a flange 24 that is greater than the diameter of the cylindrical shape of the circular pin 12, 14, 16. Upon mounting the circular pins 12, 14, 16 from the bottom side of the base plate 10 to the respective pin socket 18, 20, 22 on the top surface of the base plate 10, the radial flange 24 of each circular pin 12, 14, 16 rests in an annular undercut step 26 made in the underside of a radial flange 28 located along the bottom end of each pin socket 18, 20, 22. By mounting the radial flange 24 of each circular pin 12, 14, 16 completely within the annular undercut stop 26 of each pin socket 18, 20, 22, the base plate 10 can lie completely flat on a flat surface. Further, the radial flange 24 of each circular pin 12, 14, 16 bottoms out on the bottom 27 of the undercut step 26 such as to prevent the circular pin 12, 14, 16 from moving upward and out of the pin socket 18, 20, 22 as the rings are thrown towards the target and make contact with the upstanding pins. Alternatively, the pin sockets 18, 20, 22 may have an internal threaded diameter to respectively receive the circular pins 12, 14, 16 which are provided with an externally threaded bottom end so as to enable the threaded pin to be screwed into the pin sockets 18, 20, 22 threaded internal diameter as illustrated in FIG. 3B.

The three-ring integral hoop assembly consists of three ¼ inch wide by ½ inch thick by approximately 8 inch inside diameter rings molded from polyethylene plastic in various colors into a single unit assembly. The targets including the pins and sockets are also made of a structural polyethylene and may also be made of a variety of colors. The pins are approximately 1 inch diameter by 12 inch high. Preferably, since each pin has the same point value, all three pins should be of the same color.

A complete set of equipment to play the game consists of two target assemblies 10 including upstanding pins 12, 14, 16 and eight three-ring integral hoop assembly 32, four of one color and four of another color as is illustrated in FIG. 6. If two players play the game, the target assemblies 10 are placed 15 feet to 20 feet apart. Both players stand behind the front edge 30 of the target assembly 10 and the game begins by a first player throwing a first three-ring unitary hoop assembly 32 towards the target 10 15-20 feet away without fouling by placing a foot ahead of the front edge 30 of the target assembly 10 from where the player is throwing the three-ring hoop assembly 32. If a foul occurs any points scored on the throw are cancelled. After the first player completes his/her throw the challenging second player then throws a three-ring unitary hoop assembly 32 towards the same target. Players alternately throw each three-ring unitary hoop assembly 32 until all four hoop assemblies 32 are thrown towards the target 10 of upstanding pins 12, 14, 16.

Scoring is as follows. For each ring of the three-ring unitary hoop assembly 32 that encircles a pin (12, 14, or 16) of the target 10 a player is awarded one point. The points are offset by competing players, that is, if the first player scores three points and the competing player scores one point the result is that two points are awarded to the first player. After the points are tallied each player will pick up their respective color of the four three-ring unitary hoop assemblies 32 and the player with the highest score continues the game by now repeating the above throwing procedure but this will be towards the opposite target 10 from where the game was begun. This procedure is continued until one player scores exactly 21 points. If a player exceeds 21 points, his/her current score is reduced by the number of points exceeding 21. For example, assume the current score in the above described game is 20-19 and the first player with a score of 20 scores three points on his/her next throw. Since 20 plus 3 exceeds 21 by two points that player's current score is reduced by two points that is 20 minus 2 equals 18. Should, by chance the challenging player who has 19 points score two points during the same throw that the first player who had 20 scored three points, the first player still wins the game since his/her score is offset by the opposing player's points. Therefore, the first player is awarded one point since he/her had three points offset by the opponent's two points. Therefore, the first player now has exactly 21 (20+1) and wins the game.

The game may be played with as many as 16 players or two teams (team A and team B) of eight players each. In such case, eight players are stationed at each target assembly, four from team A and four from team B. Each player from each team is given one (1) three-ring unitary hoop assembly. Again, the four three-ring unitary hoop assemblies for each team are of a different color. The game is played by having a first player from team A throw his/her three-ring unitary hoop assembly. Next a player from team B throws his/her hoop assembly and alternating players from each team continue until all three-ring hoop assemblies are thrown. The score is tallied as set forth above and the respective team members at the second target assembly pick up all eight hoop assemblies (four of the same color for each of team A and team B) and now each player returns the hoop assemblies by throwing them one at a time back to the target at which play was started. Again, after all the points are tallied the game is won by the first team that gets exactly 21 first.

As FIG. 6 illustrates all of the elements of the game can be conveniently packaged into a single carrying case. The target can be made to include an upstanding-flange 40 about its complete periphery to which are mounted two hinges 42 and two spring lock latches 44 so as to form a carrying case with the six pins and eight three-ring unitary hoop assemblies stored therein.

While the present invention has been described in terms of a limited embodiment, it is apparent that other forms may be adapted by one skilled in the art. In other words, claim elements are not limited to imperfections of the exact language used. The teachings of the present invention encompass any reasonable substitutions or equivalents of claim limitations. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other applications are possible with this invention. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A ring toss game comprising: at least one three-ring molded unitary hoop assembly, said at least one three-ring molded unitary hoop assembly comprising: a plurality of plastic molded annular rings, each ring of said plurality of plastic molded annular rings having a center, and a portion of said ring being integral with an abutting ring to maintain relative positions of said annular rings to each other, said three-ring unitary hoop assembly being arranged in an abutting relationship to each other such that the center of all three rings forms an equilateral triangle; and at least two target assemblies, each target assembly comprising: a base member; a plurality of plastic molded upstanding hollow pins projecting upwards having an open bottom end and a closed top end, said open bottom end secured to said base member, each of said plurality of upstanding hollow pins being secured to said base member such that when said three-ring molded unitary hoop assembly is thrown at said upstanding pins a single ring of said three-ring molded unitary hoop assembly can only encircle a single pin of said plurality of upstanding hollow pins.
 2. The ring toss game as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one three-ring molded unitary hoop assembly further comprises as least eight three-ring unitary molded hoop assemblies, said eight three-ring unitary molded hoop assemblies being grouped into two sets of four three-ring unitary hoop assemblies, each set being of different colors, each of said three-ring unitary hoop assembly maintaining constant the relative location of each ring.
 3. The ring toss game as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least one pin socket integral with said base member, said at least one pin socket having an enlarged recess at the bottom thereof; each of said plurality of upstanding hollow pins having an enlarged flange at said open bottom end, said enlarged flange nesting in said enlarged recess at the bottom of said at least one pin socket.
 4. The ring toss game as claimed in claim 1 further comprising at least one pin socket integral with said base member, said at least one pin socket having a threaded internal diameter; each of said plurality of upstanding hollow pins have a threaded outer diameter at said bottom end, said threaded outer diameter being screwed into said threaded internal diameter of said at least one pin socket. 